Araman turned an inquisitive expression to Brea. Maybe she could give him some explanation as to why he can feel the next moment coming.
“Araman’s energies are blocking me. They are anticipating my actions. His energies are aware of everything.” Her jade eyes focused on him. “Araman is aware of his web within.”
“Web within?” Santari asked.
“The connections of your energies within your body but Araman’s are different somehow.” She cocked her black gold head at Araman. “You can feel it, can’t you?”
His blond head nodded. “It started after the cleansing.”
“It awakened your energies.” A wry smile crossed her face. “Would you like to test them?” Brea wanted to flex her own energies as she felt them flare.
“Now this is going to be interesting?” Santari moved back and found a comfortable seat against a trunk.
“Test?” He folded his arms and cocked a grin at her. She nodded with a challenging gleam in her eye. “Hand to hand?” He started to shake his head knowing his size alone could crush her.
Brea stepped forward, grabbed his belt and pulled him closer to her. “Araman, there will be limited contact so you will not be able to hurt me.” She let go of the tie. “Take the stance and let your energies guide your reaction.”
“Brea, I don’t think this is a good idea.” Araman became more serious.
She looked up at him with her eyes glinting like ice chips, “Take the stance. I can kill larger than you if I need too.” Brea placed herself with her bare feet firmly in the sand.
“Very reassuring of you.” Araman gently teased before following her instructions.
Brea lowered her head and took a deep breath raising her face up to the sky then released her breath. Her gaze leveled to Araman watching her closely. She raised her rigid hands held flat with the fingers lined to a point and her thumb extended out to form an “L”.
As her hands flowed up to guard and attack, she leaned back on one leg sizing Araman up.
“Let your energies guide the movement of your body. Do not think just be aware of everything around you. The smell and sounds will alert your body when and where to defend itself.”
Brea began to circle Araman. She moved crossing her feet over each other never taking her eyes off of him. Araman crouched slightly and raised his own hands in front of his chest indicating he was ready for her.
She swung around and brought her hand like an ax to his hip. His hand and energy pushed it back before she made contact. Brea moved slightly before attempting to chop at his shoulder blade but he turned and countered with a block. She was finding it difficult to bring her attacks upon him. Her hand came at his knee as though it was dragging great weight.
Again Araman thwarted the feeble attack by grabbing her wrist. He held it in his firm grip. He knew she was capable of more and he wanted to see it.
“You’re holding back.” Araman let go of her wrist. “Don’t.” A sarcastic smile came across his lips. “You can’t kill me. I am your Chatam Pritam remember.”
“This is true but I do not want to hurt you.” She stepped back. “My energies are resisting me as well as yours.”
“Do not look at it like an open attack.” Araman said. “I am the student. You are the teacher testing me.” He opened his palms to her. “I need to know Brea what I can do. You are the only one strong enough to test me.”
She looked up at him thoughtfully. “I am curious too Araman.” She drew herself up to her full height. “When you are ready.” She gave him a slight nod facing him.
Brea could test him. She hated to think he was right, but the idea was easier for her to deal with. Her thoughts rambled through her head as she watched Araman prepare. She was unsure how to test him though. She began to circle him with her eyes on his frame.
Araman’s physical appearance already announced his strength and his body was aware of energies intruding. Brea halted and glanced up at Araman. A slow small smile revealed on her lips as her tongue ran along her teeth admiring the way the sunlight bounced off of him like Elyk Llehc’Tim, the guardian of the Shinwa sun.
Araman was taken aback inwardly at the sight of Brea watching him with the eyes of a predator. The space thickened between them as energies met and sparked off each other. Araman could feel her surrounding him as a spicy floral scent filled the air. With each breath he took he could feel his energies become aware of Brea.
Neither of them noticed Santari sitting up with interest, as Araman remained focused on Brea. Without any warning the air was infused with cinnamon as Brea spun lowering her left hand to behind Araman’s knees, then rising with an attempt at his heart with a chop from the right. Her left hand came above to the base of his skull but missed from Araman spinning out of the way.
Her lightening speed was met with Araman’s own. What Araman was not expecting was the residual energies she left behind. Where her hands met with his aura, the sensations of small electrical volts warmed his skin as they traveled through his web.
He faced her with a boyish crooked lip. This was a test that Araman knew he was going to enjoy failing. He placed himself in his stance and in a fluid motion his hands raised in front of his heart chakkra as though he was born to the martial arts.
Out of the blue Araman rushed at Brea who crouched and readied to counter. As his hand came at her heart, Brea’s hand shot up and connected with Araman’s. She pushed herself off his arm and into several back flips putting distant between them.
She landed and bent at the knees with her eyes on Araman. She felt the warming of his touch roaming her body and settling in between her legs. With a ragged breath, she fought to control the energy. He made it worse by removing his tunic leaving him only in the bottoms tied around his waist. The man made others look like boys when he turned and narrowed his eyes at her.
Araman came at her. Just as he made contact, Brea dropped down like a spider and kicked his legs out from underneath him. Araman was flat on his back with another heated charge riding up his senses.
Brea rose up and in an instant was in the air with her hands out like wings and her legs drawn up targeting Araman. He could feel the laser of energy she was striking at his spiritual chakkra. He rolled out of the way before her feet connected.
Araman’s hand shot out as she landed on the beach and grabbed her ankle. Brea felt the earth move beneath her feet as the sand softened her fall. Araman pinned her to the ground by holding her wrists and sitting on her mid-drift. Tapping into his magna layer of his aura, Brea injected another charge of sexual energy.
A victorious smile crept along his face as Brea stopped her struggling against his weight. He felt a warming sensation beneath his torso spreading throughout his body and just as he relaxed slightly; she brought her knees up behind his back. Before Araman could blink, her legs linked around his neck and she was pulling him down backwards.
He grabbed her ankles straightening up on his knees to break her grip. Brea took the chance to release her hold and flipped herself upright. It was her turn to smile at his surprised expression from her escape.
Araman looked up at her from where he kneeled on the creamy surf. Black and gold tendrils of stray ringlets bounced around her face as she intently stared at him. The energies burning inside him were enough to make him mad. The sight of her parted lips and wide eyes only fueled the lava churning inside of him.
He had enough of sparring with her. Araman stood up and walked over to her. Brea held her breath as he reached out and picked her up. He slung her over his shoulders as he turned and headed back to their suite.
“Araman!” Brea thumped on his back. “Put me down!” She kicked her feet.
“Not until you are naked and underneath me.” He tightened his grip on her.
Brea stopped moving. “You feel it too?” She held herself up to try and look at him.
“Frigg Brea, Santari feels it and he wasn’t even fighting.” Araman stepped through the door of their suite.
He low
ered her down letting her slide slowly against his body as the door shut behind them. The feel of his hard frame against hers stoked her fires below. Her lips met his in a frantic kiss as her hands untied the ribbon to his bottoms while his hands raced to remove her clothes.
All Brea wanted was the pulsating sensation of him within her. Her fingers roamed his lean body as though her hands were starving for the feel of him. She nipped at him, teasing Araman with her tongue and savoring ever inch of his salty skin.
A groan escaped from him as he felt Brea’s mouth reached his already erect member. Before she dropped to her knees he caught and lifted her on to him. Araman’s blue eyes bore into her dark lust filled ones as he plowed into her eagerly waiting warmth.
Brea’s entire being was sent shooting into the stars as Araman tore into her. He held her firm as her body rocked against his, meeting each hard thrust of Araman’s cock with her own savage hunger. She clenched against his hard shaft, wanting to feel the burn of his friction. She needed to taste his blood as a scream ripped from her throat.
The minute Brea’s soft inner folds gripped him like iron Araman lost control. Holding her with one hand, his other entwined its fingers in the softness of her hair grabbing, pulling her back until she exposed her breast to him. She shuddered beneath him as he caught the taunting nipple in his teeth.
Araman held onto Brea as he felt every emotion he had contained explode out of him. Each eruption was stronger than the previous until he cried out her name. He was barely aware of Brea’s primal scream as she climaxed, only that his animal lust was slaked from the sound.
Musk and cinnamon filled the air surrounding them as Araman still held Brea. Her legs were firmly wrapped around his waist. He smiled down at her as his back met the door. Together they slid down to the floor.
“You failed.” Brea shook her head at him, failing to hide her grin.
He pulled her into him. “I think I shall ask for a re-test. Somehow the odds were in the teacher’s favor.”
“Soon?” Brea’s tongue licked her lips with a devilish glint in her eyes. She already knew how she was going to test his strength the next time thinking of the way he tasted.
“Soon.” Araman’s laugh echoed through the door.
Chapter Ten
Santari leaned against the bar waiting for Araman to emerge from his suite. It had only been twenty-three hours since he had carried his concubine off the beach. In the mean time his little bird had fled disappearing without leaving a trail.
He took a sip of the strong coffee. Something didn’t sit right in the pit of his stomach. What puzzled him more was how quickly she left without a trace. He had suspected foul play but Santari could find none when he investigated.
What really ticked him off was the fact he was looking forward to seeing the voluptuous flirtatious blonde for lunch. She was bubbly, bright and with a wicked sense of humor. She had a body that was made for a man like Santari to appreciate. Her dark violet eyes held the promise of wild passionate nights while her full pouting lips begged to be kissed.
She was ready to turn. Santari slammed his coffee mug down a little harder than he intended. She bought his cover story that he was a Terrian journalist researching Orpheaus Six for an article. Although the Novena moles cast a shadow over his story.
Santari frowned. She had point blank asked him if he wanted a head liner story about the corruption of Oleander’s Government. From there was a solid hour of her venting her frustrations of her job as Sub-mistress to the weapons division in warfare.
All Santari needed was a little time and persuasion and he would have caught her. He stood up getting tired of waiting for his Commandant. He strode over to Araman’s suite realizing his target’s disappearance was more personal than he liked.
Just as he reached the threshold of the door, it opened with Araman standing in a robe holding a cup of coffee out to Santari.
“Where’s Brea?” He wrapped his fingers around the offering.
“Sleeping, why?” Araman grabbed another cup of coffee for himself.
“Paige is missing.” Santari stood at the glass wall looking at the surf. “Her belongings are gone, no one as seen her since dinner last night. The manager says she has not signed out and none of the registers list her on any flights private or otherwise leaving the planet.”
“Who is Paige?”
“The target of this mission.” Santari raised the cup to his mouth. “I was hoping to recruit her over lunch.”
“Recruit or seduce?” Araman raised an eyebrow at him.
“It doesn’t matter now, she is missing without any trace, nanoscopic or otherwise.”
“Novenians?”
Santari shook his reddish-brown head. “No sign anywhere of them.”
“When was she scheduled to leave?” Araman asked.
“Same day as us.” Santari faced his superior. “And yes I suspect foul play even though I can’t prove it.” He answered the next question before it was spoken. He took a large swallow of the bitter liquid.
“Have you ever gotten the impression there is more to something than meets the eye?” Santari set his mug down. Araman nodded glancing up to the sleeping figure in the loft. “I just have a hunch that things aren’t right here.”
“We can’t go crashing in when we don’t know even where to crash yet.” Araman told his underling.
“You don’t think I know that already.”
“Have you thought about the possibility your cover was blown by the Novenians and she got nervous and ran.”
Santari had thought of it but dismissed it just as he did at that moment. “Not this one Araman. She wasn’t afraid to piss off her superior by refusing to take part in some experimental research. I told you she was ready to turn.”
Araman lowered his mug. “She told you this.”
“She wouldn’t tell me what the research was, only that morally she disagreed with its testing. As a result she got stuck with babysitting the arsenal warehouse.”
“An Oleander with values. Remarkable.” Araman said dryly.
“That’s not the point. She’s not one to back down from a fight.” He stressed.
“I didn’t see her helping out during her kidnapping attempt.”
“Okay verbal battles. Physical violence makes her stomach queasy.” Santari shrugged.
“Is she in the wrong military?” Araman commented. He paced over to the window thinking of the situation. He rubbed his jaw as he stared out at the placid surf. “You scanned her room for residual skin cells?”
“First thing.…”
A crash from the loft interrupted Santari. A coffee mug smashed on the ground and Araman bolted for the stairs.
* * * *
The ocean was warm on her feet as she waded along the dark beach. The moon shone its pale gold light shimmering against her coppery skin. Brea reached up to touch the dull silver gray cloud with her hand when her energies poured out from her body and appeared before her like a ghost.
“Shinwa calls. We must return.” Brea’s voice spoke to her.
“I can not leave him.” Brea reached out. As she did, her energies pulled away pulling on her fragile web of chakkras. The pain was so intense she could barely breathe and her scream caught her throat.
Her hands went to her heart as her body began to thrash under the strain of her energies pulling away. She fought for control but could feel herself losing as she fell back.
“Brea!” Araman’s voice cut through. Her energies flowed back into her at the sound of his voice and the pain ebbed away. She felt him lift her. “Brea!” His voice sounded frantic.
“He’ll bring you to Death.” Her energies taunted before finally being absorbed into her being.
Brea opened her eyes and stared into worried blue eyes as Araman pulled her into him.
“Things are.…” Brea felt slightly winded from her dreamscape.
“It was a pull from your world.” Araman felt her fears. His energies instinctively picked up on the
residual.
“It flowed back into me the instant I was aware of your presence.” She snuggled into him feeling the security and safety of his arms. He held her close. She looked up at him unsure.
“You bring me to Death.” Brea’s green eyes searched his. “But I do not sense it.” Her energies were not clear at the moment.
“I would die before that happens, Lyra.” Araman gave her a kiss on the forehead just as Santari reached the top of the stairs.
“I cleaned up the mess.” He felt a little awkward looking at the two of them on the bed. He shoved the envy down of Araman with a swallow. Brea was even beautiful when she woke up. “Everything okay?” He glanced to Araman.
“Everything is fine. Brea had a bad dream.” He shifted away as Brea pulled back with her eyes casting fireballs at him.
“Everything is not fine! I did not have a bad dream! Something is now off and I am getting the pull for home!” She shot at Araman. She glared at him, then to Santari and back to Araman. “You are on a mission.”
Santari sat on the corner of the bed looking dejected. “Not now, she’s missing.”
Brea looked from Santari to Araman waiting for more. She folded her arms across the sheet covering her naked body and stared at him expectantly.
Araman cleared his throat. He was not surprised by the fact that Brea knew they were on a mission. He was unable to hide anything from her. She was angrier at the tug of Shinwa more than the dishonesty. It gave him a reassuring feeling.
“Araman?” Brea’s lilt cut into his thoughts. She cocked her head at him as if he were a naughty schoolboy getting caught putting a jar of tusked ants in the teacher’s desk.
“Santari was to make contact and extract information on the Oleander Sub-Mistress of Warfare. According to Santari’s assessment she would have been a good recruit for intelligence data and now we can’t find her.” Araman reported to Brea as though she was Herse.
She sat with her brow knit in a frown as she tried to piece everything together. Brea let out a frustrated sigh. Why would his missing mission have anything to do with her pull to Shinwa? The question kept rolling around in her head.
Araman's Aria Page 14